Displaying values specified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price

ABSTRACT

A method for displaying values specified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price includes receiving data for multiple offers that reflects values specified in the offers for multiple offer variables and generating a display of the received data. The display includes multiple offer variable windows that are each associated with an offer variable. Each offer variable window includes an offer price axis representing a range of offer prices and an offer variable axis substantially perpendicular to the offer price axis that represents a range of values for the offer variable associated with the offer variable window. Each offer variable window includes multiple bars. Each bar represents a value specified in one or more offers for the offer variable associated with the offer variable window and is positioned with respect to the offer price axis according to an offer price specified in the one or more offers. A height of the bar with respect to the offer variable axis represents the value specified in the one or more offers for the offer variable associated with the offer variable window. Each bar is associated with a quantity indicator that indicates a quantity of items specified in the one or more offers. In each offer variable window, a marker substantially perpendicular to the offer price axis visually marks a particular offer price that is linked to every other marker within every other offer variable window such that the markers are operable to visually mark substantially equal offer prices within the multiple offer variable windows. The marker is movable by a user to visually mark a particular offer price and, in response to being moved by the user, automatically causes every other marker within every other offer variable window to move to visually mark the particular offer price within the other offer variable windows.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/378,175, filed May 2, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to electronic commerce and moreparticularly to displaying values specified in a number of offers for anumber of offer variables with respect to price.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Business transactions are increasingly taking place over theInternet and other electronic communication networks. Electronic marketsmay provide a forum for such transactions, allowing buyers to locatesellers, and vice versa. This process may involve a buyer (or seller)identifying one or more suitable offers to sell (or buy) from one ormore sellers (or buyers). However, it may be difficult for a buyer (orseller) to identify suitable offers to sell (or buy) from among theoffers available to the buyer (or seller). It may also be difficult fora buyer (or seller) to determine relationships among the offer variablesfor a number of offers, which may be an important part of making buy (orsell) decisions. For example, the market may include a relatively largenumber of offers. Such offers may include a number of offer variables,and there may be a relatively large number of possible values for eachoffer variable. As a result, there may be a relatively large amount ofinformation for a buyer (or seller) to consider when trying to identifysuitable offers to sell and make buy (or sell) decisions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to the present invention, disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous techniques for displaying market data may besubstantially reduced or eliminated.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, A method fordisplaying values specified in a number of offers for a number of offervariables with respect to price includes receiving data for multipleoffers that reflects values specified in the offers for multiple offervariables and generating a display of the received data. The displayincludes multiple offer variable windows that are each associated withan offer variable. Each offer variable window includes an offer priceaxis representing a range of offer prices and an offer variable axissubstantially perpendicular to the offer price axis that represents arange of values for the offer variable associated with the offervariable window. Each offer variable window includes multiple bars. Eachbar represents a value specified in one or more offers for the offervariable associated with the offer variable window and is positionedwith respect to the offer price axis according to an offer pricespecified in the one or more offers. A height of the bar with respect tothe offer variable axis represents the value specified in the one ormore offers for the offer variable associated with the offer variablewindow. Each bar is associated with a quantity indicator that indicatesa quantity of items specified in the one or more offers. In each offervariable window, a marker substantially perpendicular to the offer priceaxis visually marks a particular offer price that is linked to everyother marker within every other offer variable window such that themarkers are operable to visually mark substantially equal offer priceswithin the multiple offer variable windows. The marker is movable by auser to visually mark a particular offer price and, in response to beingmoved by the user, automatically causes every other marker within everyother offer variable window to move to visually mark the particularoffer price within the other offer variable windows.

[0006] Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide oneor more technical advantages. For example, particular embodiments of thepresent invention may provide a display of values specified in a numberof offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price, whichmay enable a user to more readily ascertain market conditions. Inparticular embodiments, one or more markers overlaying such a displaymay together be used to facilitate identification of multiple valuesspecified in one or more particular offers for multiple offer variables.Particular embodiments may automatically generate one or more orders andcommunicate the generated orders for matching with one or more offers.Certain embodiments may provide all, some, or none of these technicaladvantages, and certain embodiments may provide one or more othertechnical advantages which may be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] To provide a more complete understanding of the present inventionand the features and advantages thereof, reference is made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for displaying valuesspecified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables withrespect to price;

[0009]FIG. 2 illustrates an example display of values specified in anumber of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price;and

[0010]FIG. 3 illustrates an example method for generating a display ofvalues specified in a number of offers for a number of offer variableswith respect to price.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 10 for displaying valuesspecified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables withrespect to price. System 10 may include one or more buyers 12, one ormore sellers 14, and at least one electronic marketplace 16 associatedwith a web site or other environment accessible to buyers 12 and sellers14. In general, electronic marketplace 16 may receive bids from buyers12 and asks from sellers 14, match bids and asks where appropriate, andinitiate transactions between buyers 12 and sellers 14 whereappropriate. A bid may be matched with an ask, for example, where thecorresponding bid price is greater than or substantially equal to thecorresponding ask price, and matching a bid with an ask may result in atransaction being initiated between the corresponding buyer 12 andseller 14. A bid may include an offer to buy, and an ask may include anoffer to sell. Such offers may include a number of offer variables, andeach offer may specify a value for one or more of these offer variables.For example, a bid may specify a bid price, a bid quantity, a deliverytime, and values for any other suitable offer variables. The presentinvention contemplates any suitable offers including any suitable offervariables. Reference to an “offer” may include a bid, an ask, or either,where appropriate.

[0012] Although example markets are described herein, the presentinvention contemplates any suitable market including one or more offersfrom one or more buyers 12 and one or more sellers 14. For example, thepresent invention may provide a display of values for a number of offervariables specified in a number of offers in an auction-based market, anexchange-based market, a Request for Quote (RFQ)-based market, or anyother suitable market. Additionally, the present invention may provide adisplay of values for a number of offer variables specified in a numberof offers in a market that is part of a larger market including a numberof associated markets. Although buyers 12 and sellers 14 are describedas separate entities, a buyer 12 in one transaction may be a seller 14in another transaction, and vice versa. Moreover, reference to a “buyer”or a “seller” may include a person, a computer system that includes oneor more computers, an enterprise, or any other buying or selling entity,as appropriate. For example, a buyer 12 may include a computerprogrammed to autonomously identify a need for an item, search for thatitem, and buy that item upon identifying a suitable offer. Althoughbuying and selling are primarily described herein, the present inventioncontemplates any appropriate market transaction. Items may include rawmaterials, component parts, products, or any other tangible orintangible things that may be the subject of a transaction between abuyer 12 and a seller 14, and a single item may include one or moreother items. Additionally, items may include lots, blocks, bundles,bushels, or other suitable units of one or more individual items, whereappropriate. For example, capacitors may be bought and sold inindivisible units of five hundred capacitors, instead of one capacitorat a time.

[0013] Buyers 12, sellers 14, and electronic marketplace 16 may becoupled to each other using links 18 that may each include one or morelocal area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), a portion of the Internet, or any other appropriatewireline, optical, wireless, or other links. The components ofelectronic marketplace 16 may operate on one or more computers at one ormore locations, and electronic marketplace 16 may share one or morecomputers or other resources with one or more buyers 12, one or moresellers 14, or both according to particular needs. Bids and asks may bereceived by electronic marketplace 16 or an associated device in anysuitable format, such as in the form of Hypertext Markup Language(HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), or other suitable files withinHypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) or other suitable messages.

[0014] Associated with electronic marketplace 16 may be one or moremarket servers 20 and one or more databases containing transactioninformation 22. In general, market server 20 may support a particularelectronic market for a particular item. For example, market server 20may receive bids from buyers 12 and asks from sellers 14, prioritizebids and asks, match bids with asks where appropriate, initiatetransactions between buyers 12 and sellers 14 where appropriate, cancelor otherwise remove from the market a bid or ask (automatically or atthe request of the corresponding buyer 12 or seller 14), keep a recordof initiated transactions by storing associated transaction information22, and perform other suitable tasks associated with supporting anelectronic market. In addition, market server 20 may perform tasksassociated with generating a display of values specified in a number ofoffers for a number of offer variables with respect to price. Forexample, market server 20 may communicate data reflecting offers in themarket to one or more buyers 12, sellers 14, or other suitable entities,which data may be used by the recipients to generate displays of offervariables with respect to price for a number of offers. Transactioninformation 22 may include a number of records, each corresponding to aparticular initiated transaction. A record of an initiated transactionmay reflect one or more transaction terms, which may be the terms of theaccepted offer. Such terms may include a transaction price, atransaction quantity, and other suitable transaction terms. Transactioninformation 22 may be used by buyer 12, seller 14, and any otherappropriate entities to finalize a transaction between buyer 12 andseller 14 initiated as the result of a strike or for any other suitablepurposes.

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates an example display 30 of values specified in anumber of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price.Display 30 may be generated in any suitable manner for use by anysuitable entities. For example, market server 20 may communicate datareflecting strikes between bids and asks to a computer system associatedwith a buyer 12 or seller 14, which computer system may, using thecommunicated data, generate display 30 for the exclusive use of buyer 12or seller 14. As another example, market server 20 may locally generateall or certain portions of display 30 for a buyer 12 or seller 14 andcommunicate corresponding display data to a computer system associatedwith buyer 12 or seller 14 for the exclusive use of buyer 12 or seller14. As another example, market server 30 may locally generate certainportions of display 30 for use by a number of buyers 12 and sellers 14and communicate corresponding display data to computer systemsassociated with buyers 12 and sellers 14, which computer systems maymodify display 30 according to particular needs. Although examplemarkets are described herein, the present invention contemplates anysuitable market in which offers to buy are matched with offers to sell.For example, the present invention may provide a display of values for anumber of offer variables specified in a number of offers in anauction-based market, an exchange-based market, an RFQ-based market, orany other suitable market. Additionally, the present invention mayprovide a display of values for a number of offer variables specified ina number of offers in a market that is part of a larger market includinga number of associated markets. Display 30 may be updated as changesoccur in the market (which may include new offers being placed on themarket, old offers being removed from the market, and possibly otherchanges) to provide a substantially real-time display of valuesspecified in a number of offers for a number of offer variables withrespect to price.

[0016] Display 30 may include one or more windows 32 each displayingvalues specified in a number of offers for a particular offer variablewith respect to price. The offers may be associated with the bid side orthe ask side of a market. Each window 32 within display 30 may beassociated with a different offer variable. A window 32 may include aprice axis 34 and an offer variable axis 36, which axes may besubstantially perpendicular to each other. Price axis 34 may include arange of prices (which may in particular embodiments be stated indollars), and offer variable axis 36 may include a range of values foran offer variable other than price. A window 32 may also include anumber of bars 38 each representing a value specified in one or moreoffers for the offer variable associated with window 32 havingsubstantially equal prices. Each bar 38 may be positioned with respectto price axis 34 according to the substantially equal prices specifiedin the one or more corresponding offers, and the height of each bar 38with respect to offer variable axis 36 may reflect the represented valuefor the offer variable associated with window 32. As described above, anoffer may specify a value for each of a number of offer variables.Accordingly, a bar 38 in one window 32 may correspond to a bar 38 ineach of one or more other windows 32.

[0017] Where two or more offers specifying substantially equal offerprices specify different values for an offer variable, bars 38representing the different values for the offer variable may bedisplayed such that they overlap within a window 32 associated with theoffer variable. Shorter overlapping bars 38 may be displayed over talleroverlapping bars 38, such that each overlapping bar 38 may be visible toa user. In addition, each overlapping bar 38 may be made visiblydistinguishable from every other overlapping bar 38. As an example, avisible portion of each overlapping bar 38 may be given a substantiallyunique color, shading, or marking making overlapping bar 38 visiblydistinguishable from other overlapping bars 38. Associated with each bar38 may be one or more quantity indicators 40 which may each indicate aquantity specified in one or more offers corresponding to bar 38. Aquantity indicator 40 may include a number indicating a quantity (suchas an aggregate quantity specified in all, one, or more offercorresponding to bar 38, each such offer having a substantially equalprice and a substantially equal value for the offer variable) and may beplaced such that a user may visually associate quantity indicator 40with a corresponding bar 38. For example, a quantity indicator 40 may beplaced within or substantially near a corresponding bar 38.

[0018] As an example of the concepts described above and not by way oflimitation, window 32 a may be associated with a purity offer variable,window 32 b may be associated with a quantity offer variable, window 32c may be associated with a packaging size offer variable, and window 32d may be associated with delivery date offer variable. Offer variableaxis 36 a within window 32 a may include a range of purity values, offervariable axis 36 b within window 32 b may include a range of quantityvalues, offer variable axis 36 c within window 32 c may include a rangeof packaging size values, and offer variable axis 36 d within window 32d may include a range of delivery date values (which values may eachinclude, for example, a number of days from a current date). Bars 38within window 32 a may each represent a purity value specified in one ormore offers, bars 38 within window 32 b may each represent a quantityvalue specified in one or more offers, bars 38 within window 32 c mayeach represent a packaging size value specified in one or more offers,and bars 38 within window 32 d may each represent a delivery date valuespecified in one or more offers.

[0019] Seven offers are represented within example display 30: (1) afirst offer specifying a price of ninety dollars and seventy-five cents(which may, for example, include a per-item price), a purity value oftwo, a quantity value of one-hundred fifty items, a packaging size valueof fifty items, and a delivery date value of ten days; (2) a secondoffer specifying a price of ninety-one dollars and fifty cents, a purityvalue of two and one-half, a quantity value of three-hundred fiftyitems, a packaging size value of twenty-five items, and a delivery datevalue of fifteen days; (3) a third offer specifying a price ofninety-two dollars and seventy-five cents, a purity value of five, aquantity value of seven-hundred items, a packaging size value of seventyitems, and a delivery date value of twenty-five days; (4) a fourth offerspecifying a price of ninety-two dollars and seventy-five cents, apurity value of three, a quantity value of five-hundred items, apackaging size value of one-hundred items, and a delivery date value offifteen days; (5) a fifth offer specifying a price of ninety-threedollars and seventy-five cents, a purity value of three, a quantityvalue of two-hundred fifty items, a packaging size value of twenty-fiveitems, and a delivery date value of thirty days; (6) a sixth offerspecifying a price of ninety-three dollars and seventy-five cents, apurity value of one and one-half, a quantity value of one-hundred fiftyitems, a packaging size value of fifty items, and a delivery date valueof twenty-five days; and (7) a seventh offer specifying a price ofninety-five dollars and seventy-five cents, a purity value of one, aquantity value of two-hundred items, a packaging size value ofone-hundred items, and a delivery date value of thirty days. Although aparticular number of example offers with particular example values forparticular example offer variables are illustrated and described, thepresent invention contemplates any suitable number of offers having anyvalues for any offer variables being displayed within display 30. Theoffers displayed within display 30 may be associated with either the bidside or the ask side of a market and thus may include either bids orasks.

[0020] A bar 38 within a window 32 may correspond to a bar 38 in everyother window 32, each corresponding bar 38 representing a valuespecified in the associated offer for a different offer variable. Eachsuch bar 38 may be similarly positioned with respect to price axes 34within windows 32. Thus, bars 38 a, 38 b, 38 c, and 38 d may representvalues specified in the first offer described above for a purity offervariable, a quantity offer variable, a packaging size offer variable,and a delivery date offer variable, respectively. The third and fourthoffers described above both specify an offer price of ninety-two dollarsand seventy-five cents, such that bars 38 representing values for anoffer variable specified in the third and fourth offers may overlap.Similarly, the fifth and sixth offers described above both specify anoffer price of ninety-three dollars and seventy-five cents, such thatbars 38 representing values for an offer variable specified in the thirdand fourth offers may overlap. Bars 38 e, 38 f, 38 g, and 38 h may thuseach include two bars 38, one representing a value specified in thethird offer for an offer variable and the other representing a valuespecified in the fourth offer for the offer variable. The same is truefor bars 38 i, 38 j, 38 k, and 38 l. For each such overlapping pair ofbars 38, the shorter of the two bars 38 may be displayed over the tallerof the two and may be made visible distinguishable from the taller ofthe two.

[0021] One or more approved market participant lists may be incorporatedinto display 30 automatically or at the request of a user. An approvedmarket participant list may include an approved vendor list (AVL) for abuyer 12 or an approved buyer list for a seller 14, as appropriate.Market participants may be excluded from an approved market participantlist for any suitable reason. For example, a buyer 12 may exclude froman AVL all sellers 14 not within a certain geographical area. Approvedmarket participant lists for a particular entity may vary from item toitem. For example, an AVL for item A for a buyer 12 may include aparticular seller 14, while an AVL for item B for buyer 12 may excludethat seller 14. An approved market participant list may be incorporatedinto display 30 in any suitable manner. For example, offers from marketparticipants excluded from an applicable market participant list may beexcluded from any representation within display 30. As an alternative,offers from market participants excluded from an applicable marketparticipant list may be represented within display 30, but an indicationmay be given where an aspect of one or more of such offers isrepresented within display 30. For example, a bar 38 representing avalue specified in one or more offers from excluded market participant(and not in one or more offers from included market participants) may begiven a particular color or visually marked in another suitable mannersuch that a user may distinguish bar 38 from other bars 38 withindisplay 30.

[0022] Each window 32 may include a marker 42 for visually marking aparticular price with respect to price axis 34 within window 32. Marker42 may include any suitable visual marker for marking a particular pricewith respect to price axis 34. In one embodiment, for example, marker 42may include a line segment substantially perpendicular to price axis 34,as shown in FIG. 2, positioned with respect to price axis 34 to mark aparticular price. Marker 42 may be moved within window 32. For example,a user may change the position of marker 42 with respect to price axis34 to mark a different price. A user may change the position of marker42 by, for example, selecting marker 42 and moving it to a differentposition with respect to price axis 34. Two or more markers 42 withindifferent windows 32, and preferably all markers within all windows 32,may be linked to each other such that the position of one linked marker42 may be reflected in every other linked marker 42. For example, linkedmarkers 42 may each mark the same price with respect to price axes 34within windows 32 within display 30. In particular embodiments, themovement of one linked marker 42 may be reflected in every other linkedmarker 42. For example, a change in the position of one linked marker 42by a user may cause an automatic, corresponding change in the positionof every other linked marker 42. Linking two or markers 42 in this waymay enable a user to more easily determine relationships between offervariables for a number of offers in a market. Where linked markers 42each mark the same price with respect to price axes 34 within windows 32within display 30, for example, a user may more easily determine theavailability of particular values for particular offer variables at aparticular offered price.

[0023] Display 30 may include a window 44 for entering one or morequeries, orders, or other requests. A request may include values for oneor more offer variables. For example, a user may enter a value for anoffer variable associated with a window 32 and, if the entered value isspecified in an offer represented within display 30, one or more valuesfor other offer variables specified in the offer may automaticallyappear within window 44. Where a user enters a value for an offervariable and the entered value is specified in two or more offersrepresented within display 30, each such offer may be displayed withinwindow 44. In addition or as an alternative to each such offer beingdisplayed within window 44, the user may be given an opportunity toselect from among the offers specifying the entered value. For example,the user may select an offer displayed within window 44 and theunselected offers may be removed from window 44. Markers 42 describedabove may be used in connection with window 44. For example, a user maymove a marker 42 within a window 32 to a position with respect to aprice axis 34 within window 32 that is occupied by a bar 38 withinwindow 32. In response to the user moving marker 42, an offer specifyingthe value represented by bar 38 for the offer variable associated withwindow 32 may be displayed within window 44. Where a user moves a marker42 within a window 32 to a position with respect to a price axis 34within window 32 that is occupied by two or more overlapping bars 38,the user may be given an opportunity to select one of the overlappingbars 38. Upon the user selecting one of the overlapping bars 38, anoffer specifying the value represented by the selected bar 38 may bedisplayed within window 44.

[0024] Display 30 may also include execution icon 46, which mayfacilitate order entry. A user may select execution icon 46 to cause anorder to be automatically generated based on an offer displayed withinwindow 44 or elsewhere within display 30 and communicated to marketserver 20. Any suitable combination of hardware and software supportingdisplay 30 may generate an order and communicate it to market server 20.Upon receipt of an order generated in response to a user selecting icon46, market server 20 may match the order with one or more appropriateoffers and initiate one or more transactions between one or moreappropriate buyers 12 and sellers 14.

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates an example method for generating a display ofvalues specified in a number of offers for a number of offer variableswith respect to price. The method begins at step 100, where a computersystem associated with a buyer 12, seller 14, or any other suitableentity receives data reflecting values specified in a number of offersin a market. As described above, the data may be received from a marketserver 20 supporting the market. Although display 30 is described asbeing locally generated using data received from a market server 20,display 30 may be generated in any suitable manner, as described above.At step 102, the computer system generates display 30 based on thereceived data. As described above, display 30 may include one or morewindows 32 each displaying values specified in a number of offers for aparticular associated offer variable with respect to price using bars38. Each such bar 38 may represent a value specified in one or moreoffers for the offer variable associated with window 32. Windows 32 mayalso include quantity indicators 40 and markers 42 as described above.Display 30 may also include one or more windows 44 for entering one ormore queries, orders, or other requests and one or more execution icons46, also described above. At step 104, the computer system accesses arequest entered by a user. The request may have been entered usingwindow 36 and may include one or more values for one or more offervariables. At step 106, the computer system moves one or more markers 42within one or more windows 32 to provide visualization of the enteredrequest within windows 32. The request may substantially match one ormore offers reflected in display 30, and one or more markers 42 may bemoved to provide visualization of one or more values specified in theone or more matching offers that were not included in the enteredrequest. At step 108, the computer system displays within window 44 theone or more other values specified in one or more matching offers. Asdescribed above, the user may be given an opportunity to select fromamong two or more offers that each specify the value in the requestentered by the user where two or more offers each specify the value inthe request entered by the user.

[0026] At step 110, the user moves a marker 42 within a window 32 suchthat marker 42 visually marks a particular offer reflected in display30. As described above, the user may move marker 42 by selecting marker42 and moving marker 42 to a certain position with respect to a priceaxis 34 within window 32. At step 112, in response to the user movingmarker 42, the computer system displays within window 44 one or morevalues specified in the marked offer for one or more offer variables. Atstep 114, the computer system receives an instruction from the user togenerate an order based on the information displayed within window 44for communication to market server 20 for matching with an appropriateoffer. As described above, the user may provide such an instruction byselecting execution icon 46. At step 116, the computer system generatesan order based on information displayed within window. As describedabove, the generated order may specify the values displayed withinwindow 44. Additionally, the generated order may, in particularembodiments, specify a seller 14 with which the order should be matched.At step 118, the computer system communicates the generated order tomarket server 20 for matching with an appropriate offer, and the methodends.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, sundry changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, andmodifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it isintended that the invention may encompass all such changes,substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications fall withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for displaying values specified in anumber of offers for a number of offer variables with respect to price,the system comprising one or more components operable to: receive datafor a plurality of offers, the data reflecting values specified in theoffers for a plurality offer variables; and generate a display of thereceived data, the display comprising a plurality of offer variablewindows, each being associated with an offer variable and comprising: anoffer price axis representing a range of offer prices; an offer variableaxis substantially perpendicular to the offer price axis andrepresenting a range of values for the offer variable associated withthe offer variable window; a plurality of bars, each representing avalue specified in one or more offers for the offer variable associatedwith the offer variable window and being positioned with respect to theoffer price axis according to an offer price specified in the one ormore offers, a height of the bar with respect to the offer variable axisrepresenting the value specified in the one or more offers for the offervariable associated with the offer variable window, each bar beingassociated with a quantity indicator that indicates a quantity of itemsspecified in the one or more offers; and a marker substantiallyperpendicular to the offer price axis and operable to visually mark aparticular offer price, the marker being linked to every other markerwithin every other offer variable window such that the markers areoperable to visually mark substantially equal offer prices within theplurality of offer variable windows, the marker being movable by a userto visually mark a particular offer price and being operable to, inresponse to being moved by the user, automatically cause ever othermarker within every other offer variable window to move to visually markthe particular offer price within the other offer variable windows. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of offers comprise asksonly from approved sellers.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of offer variables comprise one or more of a purity offervariable, a quantity offer variable, a packaging size offer variable,and a delivery date offer variable.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein:two or more offers specifying substantially equal offer prices specifysubstantially different values for an offer variable; and two or morebars within an offer variable window associated with the offer variablerepresent the substantially different values specified in the two ormore offers, the bars overlapping each other such that a shorter bar isdisplayed over a taller bar.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thedisplay further comprises a request window for entering requests, arequest comprising one or more values for one or more offer variables,entry of a request causing markers within the offer variable windows tomove such that the markers mark one or more offers substantiallymatching the request and further causing values specified in the one ormore offers substantially matching the request to be displayed withinthe request window.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein a user is given anopportunity to select from among two or more offers that eachsubstantially match an entered request, selection by the user of one ofthe two or more offers causing values specified in the selected offer tobe displayed within the request window.
 7. The system of claim 5,wherein the display further comprises an execution icon, selection ofthe execution icon by a user causing one or more orders to be generatedbased on information displayed within the request window and communicatethe generated orders for matching with one or more offers.
 8. The systemof claim 1, further comprising an electronic marketplace.
 9. A methodfor displaying values specified in a number of offers for a number ofoffer variables with respect to price, the method comprising: receivingdata for a plurality of offers, the data reflecting values specified inthe offers for a plurality offer variables; and generating a display ofthe received data, the display comprising a plurality of offer variablewindows, each being associated with an offer variable and comprising: anoffer price axis representing a range of offer prices; an offer variableaxis substantially perpendicular to the offer price axis andrepresenting a range of values for the offer variable associated withthe offer variable window; a plurality of bars, each representing avalue specified in one or more offers for the offer variable associatedwith the offer variable window and being positioned with respect to theoffer price axis according to an offer price specified in the one ormore offers, a height of the bar with respect to the offer variable axisrepresenting the value specified in the one or more offers for the offervariable associated with the offer variable window, each bar beingassociated with a quantity indicator that indicates a quantity of itemsspecified in the one or more offers; and a marker substantiallyperpendicular to the offer price axis and operable to visually mark aparticular offer price, the marker being linked to every other markerwithin every other offer variable window such that the markers areoperable to visually mark substantially equal offer prices within theplurality of offer variable windows, the marker being movable by a userto visually mark a particular offer price and being operable to, inresponse to being moved by the user, automatically cause ever othermarker within every other offer variable window to move to visually markthe particular offer price within the other offer variable windows. 10.The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of offers comprise asksonly from approved sellers.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein theplurality of offer variables comprise one or more of a purity offervariable, a quantity offer variable, a packaging size offer variable,and a delivery date offer variable.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein:two or more offers specifying substantially equal offer prices specifysubstantially different values for an offer variable; and two or morebars within an offer variable window associated with the offer variablerepresent the substantially different values specified in the two ormore offers, the bars overlapping each other such that a shorter bar isdisplayed over a taller bar.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein thedisplay further comprises a request window for entering requests, arequest comprising one or more values for one or more offer variables,entry of a request causing markers within the offer variable windows tomove such that the markers mark one or more offers substantiallymatching the request and further causing values specified in the one ormore offers substantially matching the request to be displayed withinthe request window.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a user is givenan opportunity to select from among two or more offers that eachsubstantially match an entered request, selection by the user of one ofthe two or more offers causing values specified in the selected offer tobe displayed within the request window.
 15. The method of claim 13,wherein the display further comprises an execution icon, selection ofthe execution icon by a user causing one or more orders to be generatedbased on information displayed within the request window and communicatethe generated orders for matching with one or more offers.
 16. Softwarefor displaying values specified in a number of offers for a number ofoffer variables with respect to price, the software encoded in media andwhen executed operable to: receive data for a plurality of offers, thedata reflecting values specified in the offers for a plurality offervariables; and generate a display of the received data, the displaycomprising a plurality of offer variable windows, each being associatedwith an offer variable and comprising: an offer price axis representinga range of offer prices; an offer variable axis substantiallyperpendicular to the offer price axis and representing a range of valuesfor the offer variable associated with the offer variable window; aplurality of bars, each representing a value specified in one or moreoffers for the offer variable associated with the offer variable windowand being positioned with respect to the offer price axis according toan offer price specified in the one or more offers, a height of the barwith respect to the offer variable axis representing the value specifiedin the one or more offers for the offer variable associated with theoffer variable window, each bar being associated with a quantityindicator that indicates a quantity of items specified in the one ormore offers; and a marker substantially perpendicular to the offer priceaxis and operable to visually mark a particular offer price, the markerbeing linked to every other marker within every other offer variablewindow such that the markers are operable to visually mark substantiallyequal offer prices within the plurality of offer variable windows, themarker being movable by a user to visually mark a particular offer priceand being operable to, in response to being moved by the user,automatically cause ever other marker within every other offer variablewindow to move to visually mark the particular offer price within theother offer variable windows.
 17. The software of claim 16, wherein theplurality of offers comprise asks only from approved sellers.
 18. Thesoftware of claim 16, wherein the plurality of offer variables compriseone or more of a purity offer variable, a quantity offer variable, apackaging size offer variable, and a delivery date offer variable. 19.The software of claim 16, wherein: two or more offers specifyingsubstantially equal offer prices specify substantially different valuesfor an offer variable; and two or more bars within an offer variablewindow associated with the offer variable represent the substantiallydifferent values specified in the two or more offers, the barsoverlapping each other such that a shorter bar is displayed over ataller bar.
 20. The software of claim 16, wherein the display furthercomprises a request window for entering requests, a request comprisingone or more values for one or more offer variables, entry of a requestcausing markers within the offer variable windows to move such that themarkers mark one or more offers substantially matching the request andfurther causing values specified in the one or more offers substantiallymatching the request to be displayed within the request window.
 21. Thesoftware of claim 20, wherein a user is given an opportunity to selectfrom among two or more offers that each substantially match an enteredrequest, selection by the user of one of the two or more offers causingvalues specified in the selected offer to be displayed within therequest window.
 22. The software of claim 20, wherein the displayfurther comprises an execution icon, selection of the execution icon bya user causing one or more orders to be generated based on informationdisplayed within the request window and communicate the generated ordersfor matching with one or more offers.
 23. The software of claim 16,wherein the software is executed by one or more computer systemsassociated with an electronic marketplace.